Tour de France

Valentin Paret-Peintre carried the flag for Soudal Quick-Step on the hardest stage of the Tour de France so far, a 182.6km trek through the Pyrenees, from Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères. Four classified climbs, including the majestic Tourmalet – crossed for the 88th time in history – and an elevation gain of more than 5000 meters gradually whittled down the peloton to the point that only 20 men arrived in the yellow jersey group at the bottom of the last ascent.

It was the day that saw Remco Evenepoel say goodbye to the Tour de France, the Belgian – victorious on stage five and wearer of the white jersey for the 26th time in his career – calling it a day on the Tourmalet despite his best efforts to continue the race.

“I didn’t have the best preparation coming into the Tour, but I did everything I could to be in the best possible shape; sadly, I just wasn’t at 110%, which is what you need at the Tour de France to fight for the general classification. For three days already I wasn’t feeling good, and today in the morning I could feel I was empty, and then on the climb the legs just weren’t there. It’s a pity I had to retire, but it’s not something that will change my relationships with the race”, Remco said to the media.

At the front, Valentin Paret-Peintre decided to try his chance and attacked from the bunch, slipping away and joining the breakaway that was already established. The 23-year-old Frenchman, a debutant at the Grande Boucle, powered through the fog as the group started to disintegrate near the top of the climb, and joined by Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike), he began chasing lone leader Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious).

They managed to bridge across with 40 kilometers to go, and continued together, trading turns at the front, but soon after, other riders from the original move came back and made it an eight-man group at the start of the penultimate ascent. On the opening ramps of Superbagnères, the iconic climb making its return after 36 years, the peloton caught Valentin after more than 80 kilometers in the breakaway – a fine effort from the young Frenchman, who still has a couple of chances to show himself in the mountains next week. The victory went to Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), who held off the favourites on the way to the top of the HC climb.

“I felt good today in the breakaway, it was a good group, and I played my card. I tried to stay at the front as much as possible, but I ran out of energy, while Arensman was the strongest from that group and deserved to take the victory. It didn’t work out for us, but we remain motivated and confident in our chances for the next stages of the Tour, which is still long”, Valentin explained after the stage.

Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images